Method, wireless handheld electronic device and system of remotely controlling e-mail settings from the device

ABSTRACT

A system includes a wireless handheld electronic device having a plurality of e-mail settings associated therewith. A plurality of servers include an e-mail server and a wireless enterprise server having a database maintaining at least one of the e-mail settings. The wireless enterprise server is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the wireless handheld electronic device. The wireless handheld electronic device is adapted to remotely control at least one of the e-mail settings at the wireless enterprise server through wireless communication between the wireless enterprise server and the wireless handheld electronic device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to handheld electronic devices and, moreparticularly, to a handheld electronic device including an e-mailfunction. The invention also relates to a method or a system of remotelycontrolling e-mail settings from such a handheld electronic device.

2. Background Information

Numerous types of handheld electronic devices are known. Examples ofsuch handheld electronic devices include, for instance, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellulartelephones, and the like. Many handheld electronic devices also featurewireless communication capability, although many such handheldelectronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional withoutcommunication with other devices.

Electronic mail (email or e-mail) is used to send messages over networksand over the Internet. Electronic messaging has become a ubiquitousmeans of communication for both business and personal use. Devices thatprocess electronic messages typically maintain a message listidentifying electronic messages received for reading and processing bythe recipient. Such processing can include, for example, replying to,forwarding to others, deleting and filing the messages.

It is known to configure e-mail settings for wireless handheldelectronic devices from a software utility at a desktop personalcomputer that interfaces with a wireless enterprise server over, forexample, the Internet. Such e-mail settings may include, for example,e-mail filter settings, e-mail redirection settings, save copy of e-mailin a sent folder settings, e-mail auto-signature settings, andout-of-office reply e-mail settings. For example, an e-mail filtersetting is a setting that blocks certain e-mail messages based uponuser-selected criteria. An e-mail redirection setting enables anddisables the redirection of e-mail messages from a user's normal e-mailsystem to the user's wireless handheld electronic device. Such settingsmay also redirect e-mail messages from selected folders (e.g., Inbox;Spam) in the user's normal e-mail system. An e-mail auto-signaturesetting enables and disables appending predefined text to an e-mailmessage that is sent from a wireless handheld electronic device. Anout-of-office reply e-mail setting enables or disables sending apredefined reply e-mail message from a wireless handheld electronicdevice in response to an e-mail message that is received by such device.For example, the out-of-office reply e-mail setting is configurable viaa program, such as, for example, Microsoft® Outlook® or Lotus Notes® ona personal computer. The other e-mail settings (e.g., auto-signature;redirected folders; e-mail redirection) are controlled via desktopsoftware on a personal computer.

There exists the need for users of wireless handheld electronic devicesto remotely control their e-mail settings from such devices withouthaving to use a software utility at, for example, a desktop personalcomputer. Accordingly, there is room for improvement in wirelesshandheld electronic devices and related systems and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These needs and others are met by the invention, which provides a userinterface on a wireless handheld electronic device, in order to remotelycontrol e-mail settings for the device without using a software utilityat, for example, a desktop personal computer.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method of remotelycontrolling e-mail settings comprises: maintaining at least one of thee-mail settings at a wireless enterprise server; associating at leastone of the e-mail settings with the wireless handheld electronic device;and enabling remote control of at least one of the e-mail settings atthe wireless enterprise server through wireless communication betweenthe wireless enterprise server and the wireless handheld electronicdevice.

The e-mail setting may be an e-mail filter setting, and the wirelesshandheld electronic device may be employed to create, display, edit ordelete the e-mail filter setting.

The e-mail setting may be an e-mail redirection setting, and thewireless handheld electronic device may be employed to enable or disablethe e-mail redirection setting. At least one folder corresponding to apredetermined category of e-mail messages may be included with thee-mail redirection setting. The wireless handheld electronic device maybe employed to select at least one of the at least one folder.

At least one folder for at least one e-mail message may be associatedwith the e-mail redirection setting. An e-mail message for one of the atleast one folder may be forwarded or redirected to the wireless handheldelectronic device. The wireless handheld electronic device may beemployed to enable or disable the forwarding or redirecting for the oneof the at least one folder.

The e-mail setting may be an out-of-office reply e-mail setting, and thewireless handheld electronic device may be employed to create, enable,edit or disable the out-of-office reply e-mail setting. Theout-of-office reply e-mail setting may be automatically disabled at apredetermined date. The wireless handheld electronic device may beemployed to edit the predetermined date.

The e-mail setting may be associated with saving a copy of a sent e-mailin a sent folder. The wireless handheld electronic device may beemployed to enable or disable the e-mail setting associated with savinga copy of a sent e-mail in a sent folder.

The e-mail setting may be an auto signature e-mail setting. The wirelesshandheld electronic device may be employed to enable or disable the autosignature e-mail setting. A text field may be associated with the autosignature e-mail setting, and the wireless handheld electronic devicemay be employed to edit the text field.

As another aspect of the invention, a system comprises: a wirelesshandheld electronic device comprising a plurality of e-mail settingsassociated therewith; and at least one server comprising a databasemaintaining at least one of the e-mail settings, at least one of the atleast one server being adapted to wirelessly communicate with thewireless handheld electronic device. The wireless handheld electronicdevice is adapted to remotely control at least one of the e-mailsettings at the at least one server through wireless communicationbetween the at least one server and the wireless handheld electronicdevice.

The at least one server may comprise a wireless enterprise server and ane-mail server. The at least one of the e-mail settings may comprise anout-of-office reply e-mail setting. The wireless handheld electronicdevice may be further adapted to input a change to the out-of-officereply e-mail setting and to wirelessly send the change to the wirelessenterprise server. The wireless enterprise server may be adapted toforward the change to the e-mail server.

The e-mail server may be adapted to independently update a change to theout-of-office reply e-mail setting from a remote personal computer orfrom a remote client device including mail client software. The wirelessenterprise server may be further adapted to periodically monitor theout-of-office reply e-mail setting of the e-mail server and towirelessly send a change thereof to the wireless handheld electronicdevice.

The at least one server may comprise a wireless enterprise server. Thewireless handheld electronic device may be further adapted to input aplurality of changes to the e-mail settings and to wirelessly send thechanges to the wireless enterprise server. The wireless enterpriseserver may be adapted to update the at least one of the e-mail settingsin the database based upon the changes.

The at least one server may further comprise an e-mail server. The atleast one of the e-mail settings may comprise an out-of-office replye-mail setting. The wireless handheld electronic device may be furtheradapted to input a change to the out-of-office reply e-mail setting andto wirelessly send the change to the wireless enterprise server. Thewireless enterprise server may be adapted to forward the change to thee-mail server.

As another aspect of the invention, a wireless handheld electronicdevice comprises: an input apparatus; a wireless communication port; amemory including a plurality of e-mail settings associated with thewireless communication port; and a processor cooperating with the inputapparatus, the wireless communication port and the memory to remotelycontrol at least one of the e-mail settings at a wireless server throughwireless communication with the wireless communication port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a wireless handheld electronic device inaccordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic depiction of the wireless handheld electronicdevice of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an example of a Message List and a corresponding menu screenof the display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an example of a Message Options menu screen that is displayedafter making a selection from the menu screen of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 an example of an Email Filters display screen that is displayedafter making a selection from the menu screen of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 an example of the Email Filters display screen of FIG. 5 and thecorresponding menu screen.

FIG. 7 an example of a Filter display screen that is displayed aftermaking a selection from the menu screen of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an example of an Email Settings display screen that isdisplayed after making a selection from the menu screen of FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 an example of the Email Settings display screen of FIG. 8 and thecorresponding menu screen.

FIG. 10 is an example of a Folder Redirection display screen that isdisplayed after making a selection from the menu screen of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an example of the Email Settings display screen that isdisplayed after making a selection from the corresponding menu screen ofFIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a wireless handheld electronicdevice, a wireless enterprise server and database store, a mail serverand a personal computer (PC) in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As employed herein, the terms “e-mail setting” or “e-mail settings” meanone, some or all of e-mail filter setting(s), e-mail redirectionsetting(s), e-mail setting(s) associated with saving a copy of a sente-mail in a sent folder, auto-signature e-mail setting(s), andout-of-office reply e-mail setting(s).

The invention is described in association with a wireless handheldelectronic device, although the invention is applicable to a wide rangeof handheld electronic devices.

A wireless handheld electronic device 4 is indicated generally in FIG. 1and is depicted schematically in FIG. 2. The example device 4 includes ahousing 6 upon which are disposed a processor unit that includes aninput apparatus 8, an output apparatus 12, a processor 16 (as shown inFIG. 2), a memory 20 (FIG. 2), and a plurality of routines 22 (FIG. 2).The processor 16 may be, for instance, and without limitation, amicroprocessor (μP) that responds to inputs from the input apparatus 8and provides output signals to the output apparatus 12, which includes awireless communications port 23 (FIG. 2). The processor 16 alsointerfaces with the memory 20. Examples of handheld electronic devicesare included in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,452,588 and 6,489,950, which areincorporated by reference herein.

As can be understood from FIG. 1, the input apparatus 8 includes akeypad 24 and a thumbwheel 32. The wireless handheld electronic device4, as shown, employs a user interface including, for example, the keypad24 and the thumbwheel 32 for user interface navigation. As analternative to the thumbwheel 32, a wide range of cursor positioningand/or function selecting mechanisms or other suitable user inputdevices (e.g., a touch pad; a joystick button), whether presently knownor unknown, may be employed.

Continuing to refer to FIG. 1, the keys 28 are disposed on a front faceof the housing 6, and the thumbwheel 32 is disposed at a side of thehousing 6. The thumbwheel 32 can serve as another input member and isboth rotatable, as is indicated by the arrow 34, to provide selectioninputs to the processor 16, and also can be pressed in a directiongenerally toward the housing 6, as is indicated by the arrow 38, toprovide another selection input to the processor 16.

Another key, the <ESC> key 45 is disposed on the side of the housing 6adjacent the thumbwheel 32, although the same or similar key may bedisposed as part of the keypad 24.

The memory 20 (FIG. 2) can be any of a variety of types of internaland/or external storage media such as, without limitation, RAM, ROM,EPROM(s), EEPROM(s) and/or the like that provide a storage register fordata storage such as in the fashion of an internal storage area of acomputer, and can be volatile memory or nonvolatile memory. The memory20 additionally includes the routines 22 for the processing of data. Theroutines 22 can be in any of a variety of forms such as, withoutlimitation, software, firmware, and the like.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the output apparatus 12 includes a display 60upon which is provided an example output 64. The display 60 may alsoinclude a caret (e.g., cursor) 84 (FIG. 7) that depicts generally wherethe next input from the input apparatus 8 will be received. The output64 of FIG. 1 is depicted as displaying a home screen that represents anumber of applications 86 (FIG. 2) depicted as corresponding discreteicons 88. The applications 86 include, for example, a Calendarapplication 90, an Address Book application 92, a Tasks application 94,a MemoPad (Memos) application 96, a Messages application 98 and a Searchapplication 100. The corresponding icons 88 include, for example, theCalendar icon 102, the Address Book icon 104, the Tasks icon 106, theMemoPad icon 108, the Messages icon 110 and the Search icon 112,respectively. Although various applications and icons are shown, a widerange of fewer or greater applications and icons may be employed.

In FIG. 1, the home screen output 64 is currently active and wouldconstitute another one of the applications 86. One of the otherapplications 86, such as the Messages application 98, can be initiatedfrom the home screen output 64 by providing a suitable input through theinput apparatus 16, such as by suitably rotating the thumbwheel 32 andproviding a selection input by translating the thumbwheel 32 in thedirection indicated by the arrow 38. For example, the home screen output64 displays the icon 110 associated with the Messages application 98.

FIG. 3 is an example of a message list 114 and a corresponding menuscreen 116 of the display 60 of FIG. 1. The message list 114 isdisplayed by the processor 16 responsive to the initiation of theMessages application 98 (FIG. 2), as was discussed above. The menuscreen 116 is displayed by the processor 16 from the Messagesapplication 98 responsive to the processor detecting another inputthrough the input apparatus 16, such as by providing a selection inputby translating the thumbwheel 32 in the direction indicated by the arrow38 (FIG. 1). Within the menu screen 116, there are menu items including,for example, a Hide Menu item 118, which when selected causes the menuscreen 116 to be removed from the display 60, a Close item 120, whichwhen selected causes the Messages application 98 to close and the homescreen output 64 (FIG. 1) to be redisplayed, and an Options item 122.When the Options item 122 is selected, in the same manner that has beendescribed, the Message Options menu screen 124 of FIG. 4 is displayed.

The menu screen 124 includes a General Options item 126, an EmailReconciliation item 128, an Email Filters item 130, and an EmailSettings item 132. The General Options item 126, when selected, permitsthe user to set conventional e-mail client settings (e.g., Display Time;Display Name; Confirm Delete) on the handheld electronic device 4. TheEmail Reconciliation item 128, when selected, provides a conventionalbi-directional e-mail reconciliation between the user's main e-mailprocessor (e.g., a personal computer (PC) 134 (FIG. 12), desktop orworkstation) and the handheld electronic device 4. Although the items126 and 128 are shown, one or both of these items need not be employed.Selecting the Email Filters item 130 causes the Email Filters display136 of FIG. 5 to be displayed. Similarly, selecting the Email Settingsitem 132 causes the Email Settings display 138 of FIG. 8 to bedisplayed.

As will be explained, starting from the Message Options menu screen 124,the user may control various different e-mail settings such as, forexample, e-mail filter settings (FIGS. 5–7), auto signature e-mailsettings (FIG. 8), e-mail folder redirection settings (FIG. 10) andout-of-office reply e-mail settings (FIG. 11). As will be discussed,below, in connection with FIG. 12, the e-mail settings 248, which arecreated, displayed, edited and/or deleted by the wireless handheldelectronic device 4, permit the software utility 140 of the PC 134 (FIG.12) to not be required for day-to-day usage. As a result, users canconfigure important e-mail settings from the wireless handheldelectronic device 4. Those e-mail settings 248 may also be found, forexample, in a Redirector Settings component 142 of the PC softwareutility 140.

Referring to FIGS. 5–7, the user can create (FIGS. 6 and 7), display(FIGS. 5–7), edit (FIGS. 6 and 7) and delete (FIG. 6) various e-mailfilters. As shown in the Email Filters display 136 of FIG. 5, there is afirst display portion 144 and a second display portion 146 including twoexample filters 148 (Filter1) and 150 (Filter2). The first displayportion 144 shows that if no filters apply, then an e-mail message willbe sent to the wireless handheld electronic device 4 as indicated by theredirection setting 152 (Yes). If, however, the setting 152 was “No,”then e-mail messages that do not meet the various filter criteria arenot forwarded or redirected to the wireless handheld electronic device4. In this example, there are two enabled (e.g., as indicated by theexample checks, such as 154) filters 148,150, although there may be oneor more filters each of which may be independently enabled or disabled(e.g., the absence of a check (not shown)).

As shown in FIG. 6, a menu screen 156 can be initiated from the display136 by providing a suitable input through the input apparatus 16, suchas by suitably rotating the thumbwheel 32 (FIG. 1) (e.g., to selectFilter1 148, as shown) and providing a selection input by translatingthe thumbwheel 32 in the direction indicated by the arrow 38. The menuscreen 156 for the enabled Filter1 148 includes a Hide Menu item 158, aMove down item 160, a Disable filter item 162, a New item 164, an Edititem 166, a Delete item 168 and a Close 170 to exit from the EmailFilters display 136. Selecting one of those items (even numbers 158–170)provides one of the following seven actions: (1) the Hide Menu item 158removes the menu screen 156 from the display 60 (FIG. 1); (2) the Movedown item 160 causes the selected e-mail filter to be moved down inpriority below the next e-mail filter (e.g., Filter2 150 would beexecuted prior to Filter1 148, in order to attempt to filter outforwarding of an e-mail message to the device 4); (3) the Disable filteritem 162 disables the selected e-mail filter (e.g., causing the check172 to be removed (not shown)); (4) the New item 164 displays the Filterdisplay screen 174 of FIG. 7 and allows the user to create a new emailfilter; (5) the Edit item 166 displays a display screen (not shown) forthe selected e-mail filter that is similar to the screen 174 except thatit includes information previously entered for that selected e-mailfilter; (6) the Delete item 168 causes the selected e-mail filter to bedeleted and removed from the screen 136; and (7) the Close item 170removes the display 136 and redisplays the menu screen 124 (FIG. 4). Ifthe selected e-mail filter is disabled (not shown), then the Disablefilter item 162 is displayed as “Enable filter”. If the selected e-mailfilter is at the bottom of the screen 136 (e.g., such as Filter2 150),then the Move down item 160 is displayed as “Move up”.

As shown in the Filter display screen 174 of FIG. 7, each of the e-mailfilters includes a number of entry fields, such as 176,178,180,182,184,that define the new or previously created e-mail filter. For example,the field 176 defines the e-mail filter name (e.g., Filter1; Filter2, asshown in FIG. 6). Zero, one, some or all of the fields 178,180,182,184may be employed to filter an e-mail message based upon the sender asselected by field 178, the recipient as selected by field 180, themessage subject as selected by field 182, and the message contents asselected by field 184. Furthermore, zero, one, some or all of the checkboxes 186,188,190 may be employed to filter an e-mail message that issent directly to the user as selected by check box 186, that is(“carbon”) copied (“CC”) to the user as selected by check box 188 and/orthat is (“blind carbon”) copied (“BCC”) to the user as selected by checkbox 190. Also, one or both of the fields 192,194 may be employed tofilter an e-mail message that includes an importance setting (e.g.,high; normal; low; none) as selected by field 192 or a sensitivitysetting (e.g., personal; confidential; private; normal; Thank You!;none) as selected by field 194. Further, there is a field 196 thatdefines the action taken (e.g., do not forward) if the test of thecorresponding e-mail filter is true.

EXAMPLE 1

For example, Filter1 148 would include “Filter1” in field 176 (FIG. 7)and may include “JohnSmith@xyz.com” in the from field 178 and the checkbox 186 being checked. As a result, e-mail messages fromJohnSmith@xyz.com sent directly to the user of the device 4 would not beforwarded to the user's wireless handheld.

EXAMPLE 2

For example, Filter2 150 would include “Filter2” in field 176 (FIG. 7)and may include “Low Rate Mortgage” in the subject field 182. As aresult, any e-mail messages including that text in the subject fieldwould not be forwarded.

FIGS. 5–7 show that users can now perform any or all of the followingactions directly from the device 4 without requiring any PC 134 (FIG.12): (1) view e-mail filters (FIGS. 5–7); (2) edit e-mail filters (FIGS.6 and 7); (3) delete e-mail filters (FIG. 6); and (4) create new e-mailfilters (FIGS. 6 and 7).

The Email Settings display 138 of FIG. 8 is displayed after selectingthe corresponding item 132 from the menu screen 124 of FIG. 4. Thedisplay 138 includes various e-mail settings, such as, for example, ane-mail redirection setting 198 (e.g., Send Email To Handheld), an e-mailsetting 200 associated with saving a copy of a sent e-mail in a sentfolder (e.g., Save Copy In Sent Folder), an auto signature e-mailsetting 202 (e.g., Use Auto Signature), and an out-of-office replye-mail setting 204 (e.g., Use Out Of Office Reply). Those e-mailsettings 198,200,202,204 may individually be enabled (e.g., Yes) ordisabled (e.g., No). Although example e-mail setting selections areshown, none, one, some or all may be enabled and none, one, some or allmay be disabled. Since the auto signature e-mail setting 202 is enabled,also displayed is the corresponding auto signature text 205 (e.g., inthis example, My Signature).

FIG. 9 shows the display screen 138 of FIG. 8 and the corresponding menuscreen 206 that is displayed by the processor 16 (FIG. 2) responsive tothe processor detecting another input through the input apparatus 16,such as by providing a selection input by translating the thumbwheel 32in the direction indicated by the arrow 38 (FIG. 1). The menu screen 206includes menu items 208,210,211,212,214. Selecting one of those menuitems 208,210,211,212,214 provides one of the following five actions:(1) the Hide Menu item 208 removes the menu screen 206 from the display60 (FIG. 1); (2) the Change Option item 210 either toggles the selectedone of the e-mail settings 198,200,202,204 (e.g., selected e-mailsetting 204, in this example, would toggle from No to Yes); (3) theFolder Redirection item 211 brings up the display screen 224 shown inFIG. 10; (4) the Save item 212 saves the current e-mail settings198,200,202,204 in the memory 20 (FIG. 2) of the device 4 and, also,remotely controls the corresponding e-mail settings in the wirelessenterprise server 216 and/or mail server 218 (FIG. 12); and (5) theClose item 214 removes the display screen 138 and redisplays the menuscreen 124 (FIG. 4).

EXAMPLE 3

For example, if the user edits one, some or all or the e-mail settings198,200,202,204 and/or the text fields 205 or 220 (FIG. 11) and thenselects the Save item 212, that information is saved in the memory 20(FIG. 2) and, also, is wirelessly communicated by the device 4 to thewireless enterprise server 216 as will be discussed, below, inconnection with FIG. 12.

If the e-mail setting Send Email To Handheld 198 is enabled (Yes), thenif none of the rules of the e-mail filters (e.g., FIG. 5) apply, thenthe e-mail message is forwarded or redirected to the device 4 by thewireless enterprise server 216 (FIG. 12). FIGS. 8 and 9 show that theuser can view and change the e-mail redirection setting 198 by selectingthe particular e-mail setting with the thumbwheel 32, displaying themenu 206, and selecting the Change Option item 210.

If the e-mail setting Save Copy In Sent Folder 200 is enabled (Yes),then the processor 16 (FIG. 2) saves a copy of the e-mail message in asent folder 217 (FIG. 2) in the memory 20 of the device 4. FIGS. 8 and 9show that the user can view and change the e-mail setting 200.

If the e-mail setting Use Auto Signature 202 is enabled (Yes), then thetext 205 is appended by the e-mail server 218 (FIG. 12) to any e-mailmessages that are sent by the device 4. FIGS. 8 and 9 show that the usercan view and change the e-mail setting 202 and/or create, view and editthe corresponding text field 205 operatively associated with the setting202. For example, the text field 205 could be edited to alternativelystate “Sent From My Wireless Handheld”.

If the e-mail setting Use Out Of Office Reply 204 is enabled (Yes), thenthe mail server 218 (FIG. 12) sends a predefined reply e-mail message toany e-mail message that is sent to the user's email address/account.FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 show that the user can view and change the e-mailsetting 204 and/or create, view and edit the corresponding text field220 (e.g., “Note—I will be out of the office . . . ”) (FIG. 11) or duedate 222 (e.g., Fri, Dec. 10, 2004) (FIG. 11). For example, the due date222 could be edited to alternatively state “Sat, Dec. 11, 2004”).

FIG. 10 shows an example of a Folder Redirection display screen 224 thatis displayed after making a selection from the menu 206 of FIG. 9. Theuser may employ a menu screen (not shown) similar to the menu screen 206(FIG. 9) to edit the Folder Redirection settings wirelessly from thedevice 4. This allows the user to specify e-mail folders (e.g., withoutlimitation, Inbox 226; User-defined email folder 228) for whichcorresponding e-mail messages are redirected or forwarded to the device4. It will be appreciated that none, one, some or all of the variousfolders of the screen 224 may be selected or de-selected by the device4.

FIG. 11 shows as screen 138′ the e-mail settings display screen 138 ofFIG. 8 after selecting the corresponding menu item 132 of FIG. 4 orafter changing the setting 204 of FIG. 9. This shows that the user canalso edit the Out of Office reply e-mail setting 204 wirelessly from thedevice 4. The user can enable/disable that setting 204, which is alsoautomatically disabled if the mail server 218 (FIG. 12) (e.g., a LotusNotes® or Domino® mail server) supports such a setting, by the device 4and by the mail server 218 (FIG. 12) as of the specified due date 222.The user can also create and edit the auto-reply text 220. In contrast,Microsoft® Outlook® or Microsoft Exchange Server® does not automaticallydisable such an e-mail setting 204.

Referring to FIG. 12, the wireless handheld electronic device 4, thewireless enterprise server (ES) 216 and a database store (DS) 230 ofuser e-mail settings, the mail server (MS) 218 and the personal computer(PC) 134 are shown. First, the user makes one or more changes on thewireless handheld electronic device 4 to an e-mail setting (e.g., e-mailfilters, such as 148,150 of FIG. 6; e-mail redirection setting 198 (FIG.8); save copy in sent folder e-mail setting 200; use auto-signaturee-mail setting 202; out-of-office reply e-mail setting 204). Responsiveto the selection of the Save item 212 (FIG. 9), the one or morechange(s) is (are) then sent to the wireless enterprise server (ES) 216over a wireless connection at 232. Next, at 234, the ES 216 updates thee-mail setting(s) for this user in a suitable store, such as the usere-mail settings database store (DS) 230, which is employed by the ES216. If the e-mail setting(s) include the out-of-office reply e-mailsetting 204, then this e-mail setting is forwarded, at 236, to updatethe mail server 218 (e.g., Microsoft Exchange Server®) as that e-mailsetting 204 is not a wireless enterprise-related setting and, instead,is a mail server setting.

In this example, the e-mail setting 204 is the only e-mail setting thataffects the core mail server behavior. The other e-mail settings areenterprise e-mail settings and are stored in the mail server 218 (in theuser's account) in order that the desktop software utility 140 canaccess them, but are only executed on by the enterprise server 216, thedevice 4, and (optionally) the desktop software utility 140.

Although not required, alternatively, the various e-mail setting(s) mayalso be updated by the user via the wireless enterprise's desktopsoftware utility 140, if that is installed on the user's PC 134. Forexample, at 238, the user modifies the out-of-office reply e-mailsetting 204 at the user's PC 134 and/or the wireless enterprise'sdesktop software utility 140 running suitable mail client software(e.g., Microsoft® Outlook®). The only e-mail setting that would be madevia the email program (e.g., Microsoft® Outlook®) on the PC 134 would bethe e-mail setting 204. The other of the e-mail settings 248 would allbe made by the desktop software utility 140. Then, the steps work inreverse to get the updates out to the user's handheld device 4 as well.At 240, this change is noticed. For example, the ES 216 may periodicallymonitor and/or be notified of the e-mail settings and/or the ES 216 maysubscribe to events that are published by the mail server 218. Finally,at 242, the ES 216 sends the change wirelessly to the wireless handheldelectronic device 4, which responsively updates its memory 20 (FIG. 2)with the new e-mail setting(s).

For example, the mail server 218 is adapted to independently update achange to the out-of-office reply e-mail setting from a remote clientdevice including mail client software, such as the remote PC 134. The ES216 is adapted to periodically monitor, or be notified of changes to,the out-of-office reply e-mail setting of the mail server 218 and towirelessly send a change thereof to the wireless handheld electronicdevice 4.

A suitable firewall (FW) 244 is preferably employed between the device 4and the ES 216. Preferably, there is true “end to end” encryptionbetween the enterprise server 216 and the device 4, such that the device4 is truly an extension that is “behind” the virtual firewall 244.

A system 246 includes the wireless handheld electronic device 4, and oneor more servers, such as the ES 216 and the MS 218. The device 4includes a plurality of e-mail settings 248 associated therewith. Thedatabase store (DS) 230 of the ES 216 maintains one or more of thosee-mail settings 248. The ES 216 is adapted to wirelessly communicatewith the wireless handheld electronic device 4, which is adapted toremotely control one or more of the e-mail settings 248 at one or bothof the servers 216,218 through wireless communication between the ES 216and the device 4.

While for clarity of disclosure reference has been made herein to theexemplary display 60 for displaying information, such as e-mail settinginformation, it will be appreciated that such information may be stored,printed on hard copy, be computer modified, or be combined with otherdata. All such processing shall be deemed to fall within the terms“display” or “displaying” as employed herein.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described indetail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and alternatives to those details could be developed inlight of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, theparticular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only andnot limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given thefull breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.

1. A method of remotely controlling e-mail settings, said methodcomprising: maintaining at least one of said e-mail settings at awireless enterprise server; associating at least one of said e-mailsettings with said wireless handheld electronic device; enabling remotecontrol of at least one of said e-mail settings at said wirelessenterprise server through long range wireless communication between saidwireless enterprise server and said wireless handheld electronic device;employing as one of said e-mail settings an e-mail redirection setting;associating at least one folder for at least one e-mail message withsaid e-mail redirection setting; forwarding or redirecting an e-mailmessage for one of said at least one folder to said wireless handheldelectronic device; employing as said at least one folder a plurality offolders; forwarding or redirecting a plurality of e-mail messages forsaid folders to said wireless handheld electronic device; and employingsaid wireless handheld electronic device to enable or disable saidforwarding or redirecting for some of said folders.
 2. A systemcomprising: a wireless handheld electronic device comprising a pluralityof e-mail settings associated therewith; at least one server comprisinga database maintaining at least one of said e-mail settings, at leastone of said at least one server being adapted to wireles sly communicatewith said wireless handheld electronic device, wherein said wirelesshandheld electronic device is adapted to remotely control at least oneof said e-mail settings at said at least one server through long rangewireless communication between said at least one server and saidwireless handheld electronic device, wherein said at least one servercomprises a wireless enterprise server and an e-mail server, whereinsaid at least one of said e-mail settings comprises an out-of-officereply e-mail setting, wherein said wireless handheld electronic deviceis further adapted to input a change to said out-of-office reply e-mailsetting and to wirelessly send said change to said wireless enterpriseserver, wherein said wireless enterprise server is adapted to forwardsaid change to said e-mail server, wherein said e-mail server is adaptedto independently update a change to said out-of-office reply e-mailsetting from a remote personal computer, and wherein said wirelessenterprise server is further adapted to periodically monitor saidout-of-office reply e-mail setting of said e-mail server and towirelessly send a change thereof to said wireless handheld electronicdevice.
 3. A system comprising: a wireless handheld electronic devicecomprising a plurality of e-mail settings associated therewith; at leastone server comprising a database maintaining at least one of said e-mailsettings, at least one of said at least one server being adapted towirelessly communicate with said wireless handheld electronic device,wherein said wireless handheld electronic device is adapted to remotelycontrol at least one of said e-mail settings at said at least one serverthrough long range wireless communication between said at least oneserver and said wireless handheld electronic device, wherein said atleast one server comprises a wireless enterprise server and an e-mailserver, wherein said at least one of said e-mail settings comprises anout-of-office reply e-mail setting, wherein said wireless handheldelectronic device is further adapted to input a change to saidout-of-office reply e-mail setting and to wirelessly send said change tosaid wireless enterprise server, wherein said wireless enterprise serveris adapted to forward said change to said e-mail server, wherein saide-mail server is adapted to independently update a change to saidout-of-office reply e-mail setting from a remote client device includingmail client software, and wherein said wireless enterprise server isfarther adapted to periodically monitor said out-of-office reply e-mailsetting of said e-mail server and to wirelessly send a change thereof tosaid wireless handheld electronic device.